How to Dye Dark Hair Purple Without Using Bleach

Do you want to know how to dye your dark hair purple without using bleach? This post tells you everything you need to know to dye your hair different shades of purple using a mixture of permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes.

Purple hair first became popular in the 1970s but the trend has recently been revived after celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry and Jessie J were seen out with various shades of eggplant, violet and amethyst coloured hair!

In the past lilac shades were the more popular choice, but today dark purple hair is in the spotlight! This is great news for anyone with naturally dark, black or brunette hair as it’s very easy to dye dark hair this trendy shade of purple!

I have found you all the best purple hair dyes for dark hair to get the perfect shade from a royal purple to deep lilac.

This post is all about how to dye dark hair purple

How to Dye Dark Hair Purple

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Things to Consider Before Dying Your Hair

Carry Out a Patch Test

Before dying your hair you should always carry out a patch test with your permanent or semi-permanent hair dye, even if you have used the brand before.

A patch test involves putting a small amount of the solution on your inner elbow and leaving it to dry. Each dye will have its own instructions on how to do the test.

The test will determine whether you are likely to develop an allergic reaction from any ingredients in the dye before you use it on your hair. Obviously if you develop any irritation or feel unwell after the patch test, do not use the product!

Your Natural Hair Color Influences the Result

Since you are not bleaching your hair, the shade of purple hair that you hair will turn will depend on your natural hair color. The guide below gives you some idea of what to expect on different shades of brown and black hair.

Which Shade of Purple You Should Choose

You also need to think about which shade of purple dye you want to use. Dark purple colours like indigo, burgundy and amethyst are easy to achieve if you already have dark hair. I will show you how to turn your hair to any of the colours in the chart below.

Some of the products I am recommending can also be mixed in with other hair dyes to create a very specific shade. The products listed in this post correspond with each of the different purple colors in the chart below.

Which Type of Dye You Should Use

This post contains mainly semi-permanent dyes which typically last for 8-16 washes but this can vary depending on your hair type. Permanent dye lasts much longer but will still fade over time. There is also the option to choose a temporary dye which will last for 1-3 washes if you just want to dye your hair for a one off event.

Type of Dye	How Long Your Colour will Last
Temporary Dye	1-3 washes
Semi Permanent Dye	8-16 washes
Permanent Dye	24 washes

The Best Dyes to Colour Dark Hair Purple

Rebellious Colours Semi Permanent Hair Dye

Best purple hair dye for frequent colouring

The Rebellious Colours Purple Fury Hair Dye is completely vegan and made in the UK. It is a very gentle formula with no harsh chemicals, peroxide or ammonia. As well as colouring your hair it also conditions it!

Watch my video about ammonia free hair dyes

This dye would be an excellent choice for anyone who regularly colours their hair and wants to avoid the hair damage associated with chemical based hair dyes.

This purple hair color is extremely easy to apply and works after 15-30 minutes. When applied to dark brown or black hair this product will turn hair a deep, rich purple colour. If your hair is in good condition it will last for 4-8 washes.

Schwarzkopf Live Semi-Permanent Colour

Best to Dye Dark Hair Bright Purple

The Schwarzkopf Live Semi-Permanent Colour contains electrifying pigments which turn even darker hair colours a vivid shade of purple. This product is able to leave bright color on dark hair by intensively saturating each hair strand.

If you are looking for vibrant colors, this would be the best hair dye to choose. It contains ultra bright pigments which leave the hair with an electrifying shade of purple. Long or thick hair may require two packets in order to get even coverage.

Stargazer Violet Semi Permanent Hair Dye

The Stargazer Violet Conditioning Semi Permanent Hair Dye has been sold for over 25 years with the exact same formula! It’s so popular because its beautiful purple color would suit almost any skin tone. It also lasts a long time for a semi-permanent dye – up to 15 washes.

This dye contains only gentle ingredients and is both vegan and cruelty free. There is no ammonia or peroxide which could damage your hair.

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Color Permanent Hair Dye

Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Colour Permanent hair dye works on all hair textures and is visible even on dark brown hair, without the need for bleach.

For the best results leave the mixture on the hair for 25-35 minutes before rinsing with cool water until the water runs clear. This product comes with a nourishing conditioner which contains five different oils to leave the hair shiny and strong.

If you would rather use a permanent purple dye this one is a good option to leave your dark hair with a bright purple hue.

L’Oréal Paris Colorista Permanent Gel Hair Dye

The L’Oréal Paris Colorista Permanent Gel Hair Dye leaves dark hair with beautiful deep purple tones. The gel formula is suitable for all hair types and comes with an easy applicator to apply the product.

After only 20 minutes your hair will have deep purple hair. This product works well for dying black hair purple and creates various dark shades of purple in brunette and dark brown hair.

With this product you also get a deep conditioning hair mask to nourish the hair post treatment. The colour will last for up to 8 weeks and give your hair extra shine.

Manic Panic Electric Amethyst

Manic Panic are well known for making hair dyes of many different fun colors, and when it comes to their purple options they have a variety of colors to choose from including purple haze, mystic heather, ultra violent and electric amethyst.

The electric amethyst dye is the best one if you are trying to achieve dark purple dyed hair. It is also a good option for dying black hair purple. It is a semi-permanent product which leaves you with vibrant hair color without the need for hair bleach.

This Manic Panic dye is vegan, cruelty free and very simple to use. First wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo (shampoos designed for hard water are perfect). Once you have washed your hair do not condition it. Apply the Manic Panic dye and comb through. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave for 30-45 minutes before rinsing with cool water. You may wish to use an old towel as this dye can stain easily.

Renbow Crazy Color Semi Permanent Hair Dye

The Renbow Crazy Color Semi Permanent Hair Dye is a good choice is your are dying your hair for the first time. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals which could damage your hair or strip it of its natural oils.

If you are looking for deep purples this is also an excellent color to choose. The hot purple color will leave black or brown hair with a dark violet tint which will last for 4-8 washes. Hot Purple is Renbow’s strongest purple and has a hearty blue base. It intensively saturates each hair strand leaving it a rich violet color.

The Crazy Color range was originally launched in 1977, in the midst of the punk rock explosion and is still popular today! Their hot purple color works well if you want to create special effects by only coloring certain sections of the hair using a tint brush.

Colour-Plex Amethyst Purple Hair Dye

The Colour-plex Amethyst Purple Hair Dye is a permanent hair dye. Colour-plex is a unique brand in that their ingredients nourish the hair and rebuild the micro-bond structure of your hair. At the same time as dying your hair the product also repairs it.

If you have seen brands like Olaplex used in professional salons, Colour-plex works in a similar way. It reconstructs broken hair bonds at the same time as coloring the hair. After using this product use a sulphate free shampoo to keep the color vibrant for longer. You may also wish to apply the Olaplex Bonding Oil to maintain healthy hair.

This dye leaves brown or black hair a deep amethyst color. If you want to achieve dark purple dyed hair this product is an excellent choice.

Arctic Fox Vegan Color in Purple Rain

Best Purple Hair Dye for Mixing

Arctic Fox make good semi-permanent hair color that’s both vegan and cruelty free. The brand make a range of different purple shades including violet and lilac colours, but purple rain is the best choice for dark hair. It is also one of their most popular colours.

This dye gives deep tints of purple colour to darker hair. If you want to create a different shade of purple, Arctic Fox hair dyes can be mixed. Try mixing this one with try mixing it with Wrath to create more of a burgundy colour, or Poseidon for a deep indigo.

This semi-permanent purple hair dye has no harsh chemicals, peroxide or ammonia and is a deeply conditioning formula. If you are looking for a gentle dye that’s suitable for frequent use, this one is a good option. It won’t damage the hair and contains ingredients to help restore the hair’s vibrancy.

Manic Panic Ultra Violet

The manic panic ultra violet dye is another product you may have seen in the hair salon. It’s easy for you to use at home and comes in a resealable tub. The hair cream contains high quality ingredients which deeply condition the hair as well as dying it.

In comparison with Manic Panic Electric Amethyst, the Ultra Violet dye is a slightly bluer shade of purple. The two can be mixed together to create exactly the right shade. After dying your hair the color should last for approximately six weeks.

If you are looking for bold colors, Manic Panic is a good brand to choose. All of their products are free from harsh chemicals and allergens such as PPD, parabens and even gluten. They are also vegan and cruelty free.

How to Care for Brightly Coloured Hair

Aim to use cold water or luke warm water rather than hot, and use dry shampoo as much as possible. Good shampoos for bright colored hair are sulfate free and contain only gentle ingredients.

The following post lists the best sulfate-free shampoos to use on bright colored hair to make your color last for longer: The Best Shampoo for Bright Colored Hair to Make Your Color Last!

Another way to preserve bright high colors is by regularly oiling your hair. The best oil for this is coconut oil since it helps to retain moisture in the hair and keeps the hair in good condition. You should apply coconut oil to dry hair at least once a week. For more information on hair oiling you may find the following post helpful: 10 Best Ayurvedic Hair Oils for Hair Growth.

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• Proof That Purple Hair Was Always Awesome
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This post was all about how to dye dark hair purple without bleach